A computer is provided that monitors one or more printers over a network in order to determine when new components in each of the printers should be replaced. Each time a printer prints a document, the printer sends a signal to the computer. The computer responds by querying the printer to determine if a components in the printer should be replaced. In addition, each printer is configured to transmit a message to the printer indicating that the component should be replaced. If the computer determines that a component should be replaced, the computer can automatically transmit an order for a new component to a vendor.